


^ 



;H 378 
MS 
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JNGING BUYER 

AND 

LLER TOGETHER 

A BOOK ON 

Pearls, Slugs and Mussel Shells 



PRICE $1.00 



Copyrighted 1917 by 

W. H. MINER 



DISTRIBUTED BY 

MUNCIE PEARL NOVELTY CO. 

MUNCIE IND. 
CvMawdftl Ptc. C«. <<f^^> Vatot Block. 



ja^^ 




W. H. MINER 



INTRODUCTION 



Those who have handled pearls, slugs and mussel 
shells, well know how hard it is to write upon the sub- 
ject of them, so as to assist the beginner in forming 
some idea as to the value of his pearls, slugs and shells 
and to know the different grades he has. But in this 
book not only the beginner, but the old clammer will 
find things of interest. I have tried to make everything 
so plain by words and cuts that a person that never 
saw a pearl, slug or mussel shell can, by the use of 
this book, be able to tell the dififerent grades of them. 

You will find in this book illustrations of pearls, 
slugs, shells and cuts, of the articles used in gathering 
the shells both for the market and for the pearls and 
slugs. 

I hope that this book will be the means of helping, 
not only the new clammer, but will help the old clam- 
mer to get the very best prices for his pearls, slugs 
and shells. Sheller's Friend, 

W. H. MINER, Author. 



1. 



WHY THIS B(JOK WAS WRITTEN. 

The author of this book has been in the shell busi- 
ness for over ten years, and has not only bought pearls, 
slugs and shells, but has gone out on the river and 
gathered the shells, having had experience in the shell 
business from gathering the shells to making them 
into buttons and pearl novelties. The writer has seen 
ion aften ton of shells along the banks of the small 
rivers where they had been gathered for the pearls and 
thrown down on the bank or back in the water. The 
parties gathering those shells did not know their value. 

In 19 1 2 I hired two men and made three boats at 
Albany, Indiana, on the Alississinewa River, and we 
picked up 32 tons of good shells between Albany and 
Upland, shipping them to our plant where they were 
made into button blanks. These shells cut from 15 to 
21 pounds of blanks per lOO pounds of shells. The 
shells were gathered by parties hunting pearls and 
thrown down on the bank and left, the parties not 
knowing their value. There are thousands of tons of 
shells gathered every year for the pearls and the shells 
thrown away. 

Now, I wish every pearler to learn the value of the 
shells, for if the shells are left to go to waste as they 
have been in the past years, the shell beds will soon be 
exhausted and one of our greatest industries will be a 
thing of the past. Let every one save and learn the 
value of the shell. 

ORIGIN O'F THE PEARL. 

* Very little is known to science of the causes which 
produce the pearl. Why one is round, another half 

^•A470441 



No. I Round Pearl. 



No. 2. Button Pearl. 



No. 3. Egg wSliaptd Pearl, 



No. 4. Pear Shaped Pearl. 



No. 5. Oblong or Causule 
Shaped Pearl. 

No. 6. Flat Button Pearl. 



No. 7. Baroque. 
No. 8. Turtle Back. 
No. 9. Rosebud. 



round. Why one is white, another pinkish and another 
black. But several parties are, and have been, experi- 
menting with shells and pearls for years to find a way 
to raise pearls and shells. 

The government has a shell hatchery at Fairport, 
Iowa, where the work is carried on a large scale 
and the government has spent thousands of dollars lo- 
cating shell beds and finding out the habits of the 
shells. 

The Japanese have a way of fixing the shells so as to 
produce a pearl, and I think I have a better way than 
the Japanese have. In another part of this book you 
will find full instructions and a cut showing the shells 
being fixed and the articles that are used in fixing the 
shells. 

ALIMOST EVERY SHAPE FOUND. 

There are almost every shape found, but pearls are 
termed as a symmatrical, and smooth, irregular and 
rough prices of pearly formation which, on account ot 
their shape, cannot be classed as Baraques and Slugs. 
Some of the terms used are Baracjues, Turtleback, 
Burr Pearls, Nuggets, Points, Wings, Chunks and 
Cat Teeth. (See illustration for different shapes.) 

KIND OF PEARLS. ' 

There are two classes of pearls in general : The 
'Oriental" or salt water pearl, and those found in 
fresh waters, called "fresh water pearls,'' or some- 
times called "Sweet \\^ater Pearls." Fresh water pearls 
found in this country are called "American" Pearls. 

WHERE PEARLS AND SLUGS ARE FOUND. 

American pearls are found in mussel shells or clam 
shells which are found in almost every river, lake and 

3. 



small stream in the United States. It is not the size of 
the stream, as some of the very finest pearls and shells 
have been found in the small streams known as creeks. 
In some places there are plenty of shells and few pearls 
or slugs are found while in other places there are not 
many shells and several pearls and slugs are found. 

THE SIZE OF PEARLS. 

The size may be from a small pearl, not as large as a 
pin head, or it may be a hundred grains or larger. 

DIFFERENT SHAPED PEARLS. 

The most desirable shapes are the Round or Ball : 
the Button or Half Round ; the Pear or Drop Shape ; 
the Electical or Capsule. These shapes are used for the 
high class jewelry and bring the best prices, if they 
are of good grade and color. 

DIFFERENT COLORS. 

American pearls come in a great variety of colors and 
any good, bright color is salable. It must not be faded, 
lustreless, glassy, bony or dead white. To bring the 
high price it does not have to be any certain color, but 
the person wishing to buy may be attracted to some 
color and be willing to pay a good price for that color 

QUALITY. 

A pearl, to have value, must have a pearly lustre, 
and to bring the best price must be free from all de- 
fects ; the skin must be perfect and have no pimoles, 
dots, grooves, ridges, dead bands, or zones, hairlines, 
clouds or cracks. However, all will sell and are worth 
something even if they do have defects. There are very 
few pearls that are perfect. 

4. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Loose or Mounted, and Repairing Pearl Jewelry a Specialty 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIA>, A. 

ODD SHAPES. 

There are almost every shape found. Shapes like a 
foot, head, hand, leaf, heart, berry and bird, bat it 
makes no difference as to the different shapes or how 
fine the quality or what the color may be, they are not 
valuable like a pearl as they come in a different class 
and are priced entirely different. 

SMALL PEARLS. 

Fresh water pearls weighing less than two grains 
do not sell readily, even if quite good, being too small 
and plentiful, but the very small white shigs are in as 
good demand and will bring as much as the large ones. 
Every pearler and sheller should look close and find the 
small slugs as they soon count up into money if saved. 

PRICES GENERALLY PAID FO'R PEARLS 
AND SLUGS. 

It is very hard to tell prices on pearls and slugs as 
the buyer sees and takes a fancy to a certain pearl the 
shape or the color may be just what he wishes, or he 
uaj, a buyer for just a certain color or shape, therefore 
will offer much more for that kind of a pearl. Rut to 
tell the value of a pearl or slug the buyer must first 

5. 



see it. We give a list of some of the leading buyers and 
I would suggest that you write to the parties that have 
advertisements in this book and tell them what you 
have. They will treat you right. Always mention this 
book when writing. 

The prices given below is to assist you in forming 
some idea as to the value of your pearls and slugs and 
are prices generally paid by most buyers. 

(See illustrations of pearls and slugs for shapes.) 

ROUND PEARLS— This is the best shape and 
bring from 25c to $50.00 per grain, depending on size, 
shape, color and quality. 

BUTTON-SHAPED PEARLS— This shape is next 
to the round pearl and bring from 25c to $40.00 per 
grain, depending on size, shape, color and quality. 

OVAL EGGS and ELIPTICAL SHAPED 
PEARLS — This class of pearls bring from 5c to ^2^ 
per grain, depending on size, shape, color and quality. 

BANDED PEARLS— Those having dead, lustreless 
bands around them, bring from 5c to 75c per grain, 
depending on the size, shape, color and quality. 

If You Have Any Pearls or Slugs, Remember, I Pay 
Highest Market Prices. Write or Send to 

PRANK KOECKERITZ 

PEARL BUYER 

SUMMER HEADQUARTERS: 
Vincennes, Ind., Kaiserhoff Hotel, or P. O. Box 244. 

HOME ADDRESS: 
3750 Castelle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. 

6. 




This cut shows the different shaped slugs. These 
names are what they are known as: No. lo Chunks, 
borques; No. ii. Wings, large; No. 12. Point or 
Wings, medium; No. 13. Rough Chunks, large slugs; 
No. 14. Assortment of Slugs, Chicken Feed; No. 15 
Baroques, Misshapen Pearls. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Loose or Mounted, and Repairing Peal Jewelry a Specialty 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA. 



The large size banded pearls bring more, as some- 
times they can be pealed and made into a nice pearl. 

BISCUIT SHAPED— This pearl is a flat pearl, 
sometimes called a flat button pearl. They bring from 
5c to $5.00 per grain, depending on size, shape, color 
and quality. 

TURTLE BACK — This shaped pearl brings from 
5c to $2.00 per grain, depending on size, shape, color 
and quality. 

BAROQUES — Smooth baroques and miscellaneous 
shapes bring from loc to $5.00 per grain, depending on 
the size, shape, color and quality. 

ROSEBUDS — This shape brings from 5c to $2.00 
per grain, depending on size, shape, color and quality. 

SLUGS. 

Slugs come under three classes and are sold by the 
ounces. They are called "River Run," ^'Selected" or 
"Chicken Feed.'' So many pearlers and shellers do not 
save the small slugs or don't look for them. This is a 
mistake, as this class of slugs bring as high a price as 
the large slugs and if saved they soon run into money. 

(See illustration for the different shapes.) 

7. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Loose or Mounted, and Repairing Peal Jewelry a Specialty 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA. 



"RIVER RUN:'—T\\\s class of slugs are the slugs 
just as they are fouud aud they are all put together aud 
sold as river run slugs. Thisclass of slugs bring from 
$i.oo to $7.00 Der ounce, depending on the size, shape, 
color and quality. 

SELECTED SLUGS — A great many pearlers and 
shellers sort out these slugs ; that is they take out tl e 
rough pieces and those of cheaper grade and sell them 
as selected slugs, and sold in this way, they bring fror.i 
$3.00 to $3001 per ounce, depending on size, shape, 
color and quality. . < i 

''THICKEN FEED— This class of slugs are the 
very small slugs and if they are of a good color and' 
quality they bring from $1.00 to $20.00 per ounce, de- 
pending on the size, shape, color and quality. 

The most desirable color for slugs is a fine pearly 
white. The colored slugs are used in making peai'l 
novelties. 

NO COMMERCIAL VALUE ON PEARLS. 

While there is no commercial value on pearls and 
slugs, there are large sums spent every year for them, 
and they are worn by the very best class of peoi^le. A 
good grade pearl or slug will bring a good price a'"' ii 



Hiere are thousands of people that do nothing' else but 
buy pearls and slugs during the shelling season Write 
the advertisers in this book and tell them wiial you 
have. They will give you the best prices for your pearls 
and slugs. 

IMPROVING PEARLS. 

Some pearls may be peeled or the top layers taken 
off so as to take a flaw or crack from the pearl, but 
this is a very risky thing to do and without a great 
deal of experience one may not be sure it is the right 
thing to do and one may damage the pearl so it would 
be worthless. It is the natural lustre or sheeu that is 
wanted and v/hen it has a good lustre it will bring a 
jood price. 

If you have a pearl that you think could be improved 
by peeling and you have not had any experience in 
peeling pearls I would send it to some one that iriakes 
a specialty of peeling pearls. 

Improving pearls is a very delicate and m 'certain 
operation, and in a great many cases, instead of im- 
proving the pearl it makes them worse. If nature has 
not finished her work right it is doubtful if you can. 

WONDERFUL SHAPES. 

When you find a piece shaped like a hand, for^t, bird, 
head or duck, as these shapes are common, being 

SEND YOUR PEARLS AND SLUGS TO 

W. S. IVIILLER 

Pearl Dealer and Manufacturing Jeweler. 

CLINTON, IOWA. 

9. 



DAVENPORT PEARL BUTTON CO. 

MANLF CTLRES 

DAVENPORT, IOWA 



formed in the hing'e area of the shell. The\ are not 
worth any more than the regular rim of sings. 

The greatest novelty, the most wonderful thir.g in 
the pearl line is a round pearl. How the mussel ever 
makes it round is one of the unexplained won 'ers of 
nature. 

OYSTER PEARLS. 

Oyster pearls are of no value that you find in ihe 
oysters we eat. The newspaper stories you sec about 
them are very misleading and untrue. 

DOES IT HURT THE PEARL TO BE HEATED? 

Where parties are gathering the shells for the m.ar- 
ket and get large quantities of them they cook the shells 
in a large cooker made for that purpose and in cooking 
the shells the pearls become heated at the same time 
as the shells boil in the cooker for from 15 to ?5 min- 
utes. 

There is an opinion among some pearl buyers that 
cooking injures the pearls. Plowever, like a great many 
other things connected with the business it is nci prov- 
en that cooking will cause a pearl to crack or that the 
ones not cooked will not crack. It seems to d-^pend 
more on the quality of the pearls found in diffe -ent "o- 
calities than on the cooking. I would advise that when 
you find a shell that causes you to think that it contains 

10. 



The Best and Only Exclu- 
sive House Dealing in 
American Pearls 



BUNDE£UPMEYER 

AMERICAN PEARLS 

65 Nassau St. New York, N". Y. 

F. H. OSTERWALD, Manager. 

Send us your pearls and receive immediate reply. 

WE PAY CASH. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Loose or Mounted, and Repairing Peal Jewelry a Specialty 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA. 



a pearl I would open it with a knife and examine the 
meat or mussel closely. 

NOTE — Old clammers say that they can tell a shell 
that contains a pearl as soon as they see it, by the ap- 
pearance and shape of the shell. But lots of p>:;arls are 
lost by the parties not looking close enough or by part- 
ies wading in the water and opening the shelN while 
in the water. Lots of pearls are just laying next to tf:e 
shell and as soon as the shell is broken open the pearl 
drops out. I would advise the pearler to gather the 
shells and take them to the bank before opening the 
shells. I wi?h to state that I have seen himdreds of dol- 
lars worth of pearls and slugs, some that had been 
cooked and those that had not and I wish to say that 
if the pearls have not been left in the bottom of the 
cooker they are just as good as the ones not cooked. I 
have also seen several pearls after they had been left 
in the bottom of the cooker and boilecl over and over 
again until they were worthless. .Vlways look close in 
the bottom of the cooker after each cookerful has been 
taken out. 

SHELLS WITH PROJECTIONS. 

Sometimes the pearl breaks through the mantel in 
which it is formed and becomes attached to the .shell, 

11. 



LANSING BUTTON CO., LANSING IOWA 

Buyer fresh water clams. Send us sample of average run 
of shells by parcels post or express, charges paid. State 
town where the shells can be loaded and we will quote 
you a price, loaded on cars. 



and in a great many casej eve' coats over with the 
shell material don't throw away any shell that has a 
smooth projection on the inside of the shell, as it may 
be a pearl and can be removed and the shell material 
peeled off and make a fine round or button pearl. I 
have seen some very fine pearls tha'. were removd 
from the shell, the place on the shell looking just like 
a blister on the shell. On another page of tlii^ book 
you will see a cut of a shell showing wb.ere a fine but- 
ton pearl was found. This looked just like a blister 
on the shell and when the top layer was taken off and 
the pearl removed and peeled il made a fine 23-grain 
button \y arl. The rhell v^as i':.und in the Kaskaskia or 
Okow River, near Bruce, 111., in August, 1913. This 
river is very small pnd parties wade in and gather the 
shells for the pearls. There are some very good shells 
between Cooks Mills and Shelbyville and on down the 
river at Vandalia and Keysport. They carry on the 
shelling on a larger scale, gathering the shells both for 
the pearls and for the market. There has been some 
very nice pearls found near Vandalia and Keysport, 
Illinois. 

12. 




This shell was found in the Okow or Kaskaskia 
River, north of Bruce, Illinois, in 1912, and the pearl 
weighed 17 grains and it had a nice color. 



MUSSEL SHELLS AND WHAT THEY ARE 

USED FOR. 

Mussel or clam shells are found in almost every 
river, lake and small stream in the United States, and 
the shells are used in making pearl buttons, pearl nov- 
elties and chicken grit. There are now over two hun- 
dred factories using shells in the manufacturing of 
pearl buttons or novelties. 

GRADE OF SHELLS. 

There are so many grades of shells that I give on an- 
other pa§^ a list of different shells and what they are 
used for, but a shell to bring a good price, should be a 
clear white (not chalky) color and be at least four 
lines thick at the thinnest point on the blank. A line 
on a button gauge is 1-40 of an inch. A shell that is 4 
lines thick is i-io of an inch thick. 

WHY THEY MUST BE FOUR LINES OR MORE. 

Now, in cutting the shells into button blanks the cut- 
ter gets paid only for all blanks that are so many lines 
thick, that is, a cutter cutting the 14, 16 and 18-line 
blanks must cut nothing under 3 lines thick, while the 
20, 22 and 24-line buttons must be 4 lines thick, and 
the 30 and 36 must be 6 lines or more. Now, the very 
* thin shells or tips of the large shells are made into 
what is known to the cutter as tips, and these tips must 

13. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA. 



be from one line up. So, you see, most all the shell is 
cut into blanks of some kind. If the shells are not too 
thin and brittle they will bring a good price. If you 
w'll send a sample of your shells to us or to any of the 
compaines whose advertisement appears in this book, 
they will tell you what grade you have. Always send 
all shell charges fully paid and write your name on the 
outside of the package so they can tell where it is 
from. 

GATHERING THE SHELLS. 

The methods employed in gathering shells out of the 
water in which they are found varies, and it depends 
on the nature of the beds and the depth of the water, 
but the most successful way to gather them where the 
water is very deep is to use the "Crow Feet" or drag. 
We show a cut of the hook, also the hooks and bar and 
tell you how to make the complete outfit, on another 
page. We also show you a cut of the dip-net and tell 
you how to make this useful article, as so many people 
prefer the dip-net to the ''crow feet." It is not an un- 
common thing to see as high as lOO men and women 

14. 



Representatives : 

Nathan Hubbard. 

U. G. Whitehouse. 
Joe Reeder. 

J. B. Prewitt. 

Geo. W. Nelson. 
Lewis Sirkle. 

Jno. Puckett. 

Boats : 

Margie M. 

Helen Dean. 
Red. 

Peter. 

Jo. Reeder. 

Dixie B. 

BUYER 

W. H. Soaper 

SHELLS AND PEARLS 

Largest Producer of Raw Material in the World. 
Henderson, Ky. 

Write if Interested. 



wading- in the small streams gathering the shells in i 

baskets or bags and taking them to the bank to open | 

them, looking for the pearls. The persons gathering '> 

the shells will know best what kind of an outfit will \ 

most suit him. We show all the different outfits and | 

will show you how to make them, in this book. | 

HOW TO MAKE THE "CROW FEET." | 

Take common galvanized telephone wire and cut it j 
in pieces ii inches long. Now take a flat piece of iron ' 
and bore four holes in it, so you can put the four ends , 
in them. Now take two pieces of the wire and bend i 
them so as to be the same length and put the four ends ] 
in the holes and twist the wire until within about i i 
inch from the end. The projecting ends are then bent ! 
up and make into hooks. After making the hooks they I 
are then tied to stagen 3 or 4 on each piece (see illus- ' 

tration of the bar and hooks). The stagen should be 8 j 
or 10 inches long. These stagens and hooks are then ' 
tied on a gas pipe or pole, about 6 inches apart (the \ 
length of the pipe depends on the size of the stream 
or river. The sizes that are used on the Ohio and Miss- j 
issippi Rivers are from 12 to 18 feet long.) After you '' 
have tied on all the hooks, take a 3-4 or i-inch ro])e and 
tie it in the middle of the bar and tie the other end to ! 
the boat. ( If a mule is to be used, see directions for 
working the mule.) 

15. I 



HOW TO USE THE BAR AND HOOKS. 

Now take your boat to where you think the shells 
are and drop over the bar and hooks and let your boat 
float down stream dragging the bar on the bottom of 
the river bed (the boat will not float down unless the 
current is very swift and a mule is used to pull the 
boat with. After dragging the bar for some distance, 
pull it up and if there are any shells at that place you 
will have them hanging to the hooks. I have seen as 
high as 200 shells on a bar at one time. You go over the 
bed again as often as you like. 

HOW TO MAKE THE MULE. 

Take strips of lumber 1x2 and make a frame 2 feet 
wide by 5 feet long and cover it with canvas and tie 
a rope to each end of the frame so you can guide it. 
Now, when you drop over the bar and hooks, just put 
your mule in the water at the head of your boat and 
/ou will float down stream without any effort on. your 
part. But be sure and take the mule out if your boat 
gets caught on a snag ; if you don't it will pull the boat 
under. Always lift the mule out of the water before 
taking the bar and hooks out. Most all shellsers have 
two bars and hooks so as to be dragging while taking 
the shells off the other bar. 

HOW TO MAKE THE DIP-NET. 

Take a piece of flat iron and have it bent somewhat 
triangular in form with the bottom straight and the 

16. 




Dip Net. 

By this cut you can see how the Dip Net is made 
and any person can make one in a little while, or it 
will not cost but a little to have a blacksmith to make 
you one. 



sides coming up to the pole or handle. The net should 
be from 20 to 40 inches across the bottom and have 
coarse teeth along its edge, which is bent downward. 
A net of two-inch mesh, made of small chains or No. 
96 trot line with a capacity of a bushel or more is fast- 
ened to the hoop by means of chain links and this trails 
behind. A short rope or bridle is attached to the curved 
sides of the hoop which leads to a single rope, which is 
tied to the boat. 

This way of gathering the shells is a good one when 
the water is free from snags and the water is not too 
deep. It is not known who invented this valuable ap- 
paratus, but the idea must have been taken from the 
fish dip-net which it resembles. Any one can, by fol- 
lowing the above instructions and by looking at the 
cut of the dip-net, make one in a little while, or you 
can take this book to any blacksmith and show him the 
cut and dir^ections ; he can make you one, it should not 
cost much. 

SHELLS GATHERED FOR THE MARKET. 

Where shells are gathered for the market and the 
business is carried on on a large way, the shells are 
opened by heating them. This is done by placing in the 
cooker about two inches of water and then filling the 
cooker up with shells and then cover it over with old 
carpet or gunny sacks and build a fire under it and let 
it come to a boiling point and keep it that way for 

17. 




ADVERTISE 

Get business everywhere 25 words in ICO 
syndicate monthlies, $1.00; 100 country 
weeklies, $2.50; 40 big Sunday papers, $10. 
Your advertising mattsr written free by experts. 

M. COPE AGENCY, St. Louis 



about 20 minutes, or until the mussel meats become 
loosened from the shell and will come out easily. The 
shells and meat are then all thrown out on a table 
where the man or woman takes out the meats and 
looks for the pearls and slugs, throwing the good 
shells in a pile and the colored or bad shells away. The 
meats are left on the table and can be gone over again, 
so as to find any pearls or slugs that have been over- 
looked and feel of each mussel so as to find any pearl 
or slug that might be imbedded in the mussel and not 
visible. 

WHAT TO DO WITH THE MEATS OR 
MUSSELS. 

Now, the laws of some states are very strict as to 
leaving any of the meats or mussel along the banks 
where they will become offensive and dangerous to the 
health of the community. In some places the fishermen 
use them for bait; in other places the farmers come 
and get them for their hogs .or chickens. If they are 

18. 



not used in any way they should be buried by the 
sheller and then there can be no complaint. 

NAME OF SHELLS. 

There are something like 600 names of shells and 
shellers are always finding new names for their shells, 
that I am only giving a list of a few of the most com- 
mon of the shells that are found in most all the rivers : 
Niggerhead, Mucket, Yellow Sand, Black Sand, 
Maple Leaf, Pig Toe, Monkeyface, Washboard, Blue 
Point, Three Ridge, Fluted Shell, Rock Shell, Bull- 
head, Elephant Ear, Lady Finger, Squaw Foot, Deer 
Toe, White Heel Splitter, Buckhorn, Pistol Grip, 
Pocketbook, Butterfly, Papershell, Razor-back, Pim- 
ple Backs, Warty Backs, Buzzard Wings. 

GRADES, AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR. 

NIGGERHEAD — On account of its good size, firm 
texture and pearly lustre, this is the most valuable but- 
ton shell found in the small rivers. Near the tips it 
produces a few irridiscent buttons and when it is cut 
into button blanks it makes from 9 to 18 pounds of 
blanks per 100 pounds of shells. 

MUCKET — There are several grades of muckets, 
but where they are a good size and a clear color, they 
will cut more blanks per 100 pounds of shells than any 
other shell. They will make as high as 25 pounds of 
blanks per 100 pounds of shells. 

19. 



YELLOW SAND SHELLS— This is the most val- 
uable fresh water shell gathered. They bring as high 
as $75.00 per ton, for this grade of shell is used only 
to make the high class novelties out of and they are not 
used for pearl buttons, but button companies buy them. 

BLACK SAND SHELLS—These shells most al- 
ways have a pinkish cast and they fade or get chalky 
and unless the shell is a good grade and has a clear 
white color they are of no value either as a button or 
novelty shell, but when they are white they make a 
fair button. 

PIG TOE — This shell makes a fair button and when 
the Pig Toe shell is found you will always find the 
Niggerhead Shell. The Pig Toe shell will average 
from 9 to 15 pounds of blank per 100 pounds of shells. 

IV ARTY -BACK — These shells are a very small 
shell in most rivers and it is a great waste as in most 
cases only one blank can be cut from the shell. I think 
it would be far better to put these shells back in the 
river when caught, as it would take something like 
30,000 of them to make a ton. If the shells are large 
they make a good button. 

PURPLE WARTY -BACKS— This shell is not used 
to make buttons, but where the shell is large they are 
used by pearl novelty companies in the manufacture of 
fobs, rings and other novelties. The St. Joe River has 

20. 




Shell and Pearl. 
This cut shows a pearl in the shell, and is only used 
to show the location of some pearls. 



a shell of this grade that gets as large as 6 or 7 inches 
across and sometimes 40 lines thick. This river also has 
a nice miicket that when cut into blanks cut from 18 to 1 
25 pounds of blanks per 100 pounds of shells. lUit in 1 
some parts of the river the muckets are very thin. 

WASHBOARDS — For \^ears this shell was thrown ' 
back in the river or left on the banks. In most rivres 1 
this shell is stained or has colored spots, but these shells j 
will make the cheaper grade buttons and are now sell- i 
ing for as high a price as were the good shells years j 
ago. In 1910 these shells could be bought for $2.00 to 1 
$5.00 per ton. They are now bringing as high as $18.00 j 
per ton. But when this shell is a clear white shell they ■ 
are put in with the best grades and tl\ey make a very ■■ 
fair button, but chips easily in finishing the blank. The 
Illinois River is known for the Illinois Washboard, as ' 
this river produces more Washboard shells than any 
other river. 

BLUE POINT — This is considered a good button \ 
shell as it is a thin shell about the same thickness all , 
over and it has a good lustre. i 

THREE RIDGE — This shell is found in almost ev- 
ery river and small streams in the United States, but 
as they have large ridges and are heavier at the beaks j 
they make more waste than any other shell. But where 
they are white they make a fair button blank and : 
when cut will average from 8 to 12 pounds per 100 
pounds of shells. 

21. : 



ELEPHANT EAR— Where this shell is a clear 
white shell and over 3 lines thick, they will make a fair 
• button, but most all these shells have that pinkish cast 
and are no good either for buttons or novelties. 

LADY F L\ GER— This shell is a dull purole color 
and are brittle and chip when being finished. Most all 
shellers throw them away as soon as they find them as 
they are of no value at this time. 

SPECTACLE CASE — These shells while large are 
like the lady finger, too brittle and thin to make a good 
button and they are not saved by many shellers. 

BUTTERFLY — This is a flat shell and most always 
a small shell, the cutters getting from 4 to 7 blanks 
from a shell. When finished they make a nice button. 

BUCK HORN OR PISTOL GRIP— These shells 
are used both for the manufacture of buttons and for 
novelties and when cut into blanks they make a fair 
button. 

PAPER SHELL— This shell is not saved by the 
sheller as it is too thin for button or novelties. 

The above list is only a few of the different shells 
found, but if you will send us a sample of your shells, 
charges paid, we will write you a letter telling you all 
about the different grades you have. 

HOW TO GET YOUR SHELLS READY FOR 

MARKET. 

First — The mussels or meats must all be removed 
from the shell. 

22. 



Second — The good shells must be sorted out from 
the colored shells as no colored shells should be in with 
the white ones. 

Third — If the shells are to be sold in less than car 
load lots they must be put in bags. 

If you will write to any of the following firms and 
tell them what you have they will give you prices on 
them, always enclose a stamped envelope for a reply 
and mention this book. 

These firms have advertisements in this book and 
we have investigated and find that they will do as they 
say and we would Hke for you to write them and get 
their prices : 

LA VERNE MAPES, Indiana Harbor, Ind. 
W. H. SOAPIR, Henderson, Ky. 

DAVENPORT PEARL BUTTON CO., Deven- 
port Iowa. 

BUNDE & UPMEYER, 65 Nassau St, New York 
City, New York. 

W. S. MILLER, Clinton Iowa. 
LANSING BUTTON CO., Lansing, Iowa. 

FRANK KOECHERITZ, Home address, 3750 Cas- 
telle Avenue, Chicago, 111. Summer address, Kaiser- 
hofif Hotel, Vincennes, Ind. 

THE GREAT PEARL SECRET. 

The Japanese have a way to raise pearls by drilling 
a hole in the side of the shell and putting in a small 

23. 



shot; after that they phig the hole up with white wax. 
This secret was guarded for years and was known only 
by a few. I have worked with shells and experiemented 
with them for over ten years and I think I have a 
better way to fix the shell so as to produce a pearl 
than the Japanese have. I will exolain the full secret 
here so any one by following the directions can fix the 
shells. (See cut showing shells being fixed). 

The first thing to do is to make the tools to work 
with and I wi]l start by telling you what to use. Get a 
piece of tin^ot- steel and make a tube, large at the top 
and small at the bottom, just the size to let a No. 6 
shot go through. This tube should be about four inches 
long. 

Second — Take a piece of wire for a ram rod to push 
the shot out of the tube with. 

Third — Make you some wooden plugs to hold the 
shells open while fixing them. 

These three articles is all you need to fix the shells. 
After getting these you select your shells you wish to 
fix and have a bucket or pan of good clear water handy 
and lay the shells that you wish to fix out in the sun 
and they will soon open so you can slip in the wooden 
plug. Be very careful not to injure the mussel in any 
way after putting in the plugs. You take the tube and 
push it down into the thick part of the meat about one- 
half of an inch, being careful not to get to near the 
center, but put in to one side. After pushing the tube 
where you wish it, take a No. 6 shot and drop it in the 

24. 




This picture shows the shells being fixed to raise 
pearls. In this book you will find full instructions on 
how to fix the shells for pearl raising. We will send 
you a complete outfit needed in fixing the shells for 
$i.oo postpaid. 
MUNCIE PEARL NOVELTY CO., Muncie, Ind. 

For full instructions see pages 23, 24, 25. 



tube and take the ram rod and push It down, pulling out 
the tube, leaving the shot In the mussel. Now take the 
wooden plug out and drop the shell in the pan of 
water, and after fixing all the shells you wish to fix 
put them in the place where you wish to raise them. 
You can put two shots In each shells by putting a shot 
on each side, but I would advise for you to put only 
one In until you get more experience. 

What kind of a place to fix this depends altogether 
on the one raising the shell, as some have a place where 
they can put the shells, while others have to make a 
place. All you have to do Is to make a hole in the 
ground (prefer shade), say about 8 feet wide and 15 
feet long, by 3 or 4 feet deep, and filling one end with 
sand about 8 inches deep, then filling the hole with 
water, adding water as It goes down. 

WHAT KIND OF A SHELL TO USE. 

I would suggest three ridge shells to start with or 
any large shell that has a good color. I have most all 
three ridge, with a pinkish tip, but I have. several dif- 
ferent kinds, experlementing with them. 

HOW TO GET THE COLORS. 

This depends altogether on the shells you use as a 
clear white shell will produce a white pearl ; a pinkish 
cast will give a pinkish lustre, while a dark or stained 
siiell most always produces a dark or colored pearl. 

25. 



HOW TO TELL YOUR SHELLS. 

I make a mark on each shell as soon as I have fixed 
it and keep a record in a book giving date when fixed. 
In this way all I have to do is to look at the shell and 
see how long it has been fixed. 

HOW LONG TO LEAVE THEM. 

I would not examine them after being fixed for at 
least five months or more, as it takes this long to event 
start a coat. Then, if you wish to examine some of 
them, fix you some more shells and have them ready 
and take out the ones you wish to examine and cut 
them open and find the shot and it should, by this 
time have a thin coat or a layer over it, but as soon as 
you have looked at it drop it again through the tube 
into the other shell you have ready and put it back in 
the water. The shot should be coated over in from i8 
to 20 months, but the longer you let them grow, the 
better they are. 

THE WAY TO GET THE RAINBOW HUE TO 
GREEN PICKED PEARLS. 

This is known to but few pearl buyers and it has 
been guarded for years as a green picked pearl can be 
brought out to a beautiful color in this way and the 
color or lustre is what gets the price. 

DIRECTIONS — Take a large mussel and push the 
pearl into it and then tie it up in a rag and hang it in 

26. 




Shell With Button Blanks Cut Out. 

This picture shows shells after the blanks have been 
cut from them. After the blanks are taken from the 
shell they are then ground. into Chicken Grit and sold 
in the feed stores. 



Pearls, Baroques and Slugs Bought, Sold and Exchanged, 
Loose or Mounted, and Repairing Peal Jewelry a Specialty 

LA VERNE MAPES 

INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA. 



the sun until it has rotted and dried' up and you will 
.find that it has a beautiful color. 

If you wish to fix some shells and wish to buy the 
tools we will sendv you one tub£, 6 plugs and a small 
wire, prepaid, on receipt of One Dollar. If you know 
or learn of anything new in the pearl or shell line wa 
would be pleased to hear from you at any time. We 
will answer all letters containing a stamped envelope. 
Write the advertisers in this book; they will treat you 
right. 



2.7. 




'I'liis shows n Hook iiNoil o« **<^ •'o».-Foel.* 
Cut Full Sly.ct- 






J 






J 

2 I 



twmiutmwi rti I 



•*> *r 






aKSS3BE^fei 



.. 






i 




L' 



JL »ir «/.' 

••I ro\v-Ff«'l.** ^ 

5ar a;zc/ Hooks. | 

I 
This shows the bar and hooks as they are used on the ^ 

large rivers. Showing how they are tied on the bar. j 



